I had 2 times east tixs but la-chi + den-pitt and win-houston + van-st fe on the other hands.
Menno had hard combos and always on my road.
Perfect evening for me.
Thanx menno for easy scheduling and really nice games.

His start. Difficult tickets but some nice tracks are possible. Tinman starts with 6 green and i lay 6 black. Tin goes to LA. I have good colours to block a possible LA-Mia or to go over 6 yellow and orange. However Tin lays 6 orange and then I am basically too slow. with in the end a 6er left in my hands.. 117-103

LA-Mia + Chi-NO

good colours and start. I lay perfect route + 6 orange. Should be enough normally, but Tinman has longest and a nice track with Win-LR and Mon-NO. I think I lose by 1 and draw before finishing. Finishing first would have been much better in hindsight. I draw: 17,17 and Mon-NO oops.. .. that is -13 and to make matters worse Tin draws a loc and connects to Atl for Mon-Atl. I finish and draw again for -5 this time. 119-101

Bos-Mia + Mon-NO

lots of locos and Tinman starts with 6 black and green. I lay 6 red and 4 yellow. Tin plays (Pitt-NY). I block a bit with Chi-Pitt, (2er Tor-Pitt), 6 pink, (4 white), 4 blue. We both connect and with my locs I get longest despite a clever loop by him. He draws and needs to find NY-Dal or LA-Chi, but finds nothing. 97-116

Dul-Hou+Den-ElP

Tin keeps 3 tickets and lays in no time Van-Mon. At this point I should have gone for blocks in the East, since his remaining two tickets are likely 2 East tickets. But I go for a nice track, but have not enough locos and need to overdraw, giving him time to finish a nice 43er. I gamble to connect Den-Elp instead of securing longest, but it really didn't matter. 136-99

Sea-NY + Mon-Atl

After my fast start of yellow and orange, he lays again black and green. 3-1 behind, I decide to block with Hou-NO. He goes up via SLC to Winnipeg with 6 white. With the start and my wasted 2er, he is obviously quite fast and I realise I need longest to have any chance of winning. At this point I have given up Mon-Atl. Luckily for me he slows down a bit as he has Win-LR (and LA-Hel). I block out his 6 green from longest with Hou-Dal and get longest with a loop in the north. Luckily for me Tin's 2nd ticket is Hel-LA and he doesn't draw. 106-107

Dul-Hou+Den-ElP

Again this combo and this time I realise a blocking game with those tickets is not so bad, besides I have a few locs. 6 orange (6 black) 6 green (4 pink). Now I take open and invite him to play for some sort of block in the middle. (5 yellow) 5 white (3 red Den-SLC) Kan-Oma. He draws open and I lay SF-LA, which secures longest. He connects with 4 red and continues with more blocks, but I can connect with 4 black, 5 red and lay 6 grey. the 6 gray is blocked out but I have my tickets and more track points and longest win (against LA-Chi and Dul-Elp). 98-109

Van-Mon+Bos-Mia (3rd SF-Atl)

game plan is to lay 6ers in north and get longest. But after my early 6 yellow there follows (6 orange). 6 grey with green, (4er Hel-Cal). I play Sea-Cal to block a possible Sea-NY. (6 white) by Tin with 3 locs. 4 blue with 2 locs. (5 black), Mon-Tor (2er Tor-SSM) 6 pink. All played very early on (maybe at 36/45). I expect SSM-Dul after which I have to draw locs and burn locs on black (as I had only 1 black). But I can lay SSM-Dul with a fully connected track. I am lucky to draw 6 blue open and finish with that. His two middle tickets were not enough. 81-107

After that I can play on Monday evening about 20.00 CEST or Tuesday evening and maybe Thursday evening at the same time. I am not sure about Friday right now. Maybe another option. Wednesday doesn't work.

1-0 114-109*° +DAL-NY +22 vs +CAL-SLC +WIN-LIT (SSM-NAS) - 4 LOKOS
He started (J:6 orange) I'd loved to have at that time and I took 6 grey hoping he won't counter 6 white, but he did - I wanted to have 3 of the northern 6ers with my rather cheap tix but 6 yellow now would have meant WIN dead by 99%, so me 4 blue and him of course (J:6 yellow) - my only chance for longest now was a western detour with the hope he blocks a northern biggie I don't have so me CAL-HEL (J:VAN-CAL) me SEA-CAL (J:1er) me 1er (J:NY-PIT!) - was he preparing a blocking festival or did he have 22? - made no difference, I couldn't have blocked anything with my colours and went my best way 5 purple, 5 white 3 red 4 red + OKL-LIL (not in that order) with high hope for longest as he early played STL-LIL and couldn't make a loop in NY - he had 22 11 on his route but maybe needed 1 to HOU (12 10 8 on his route then) or many other possibilities 2 turns away - I overdrew for 5 black as I only could draw SSM-OKL and hoped for him not having 22 or 1 tic missed but he had 22+11
decider: northern 6ers I guess

2-0 111*-109° +13 +13 west vs +LA-MI +POR-PHO (MON-NO) - 5 LOKOS
I was too greedy and didn't take 6 black with some lokos saying to myself: NEXT TURN - and of course he started (J:6 black) the very next turn - me LA-PHO (J:5 white) me SFR-LA (J:6blue) me 5 purple and 1 tic fulfilled - my eastern aim was obvious so he started blocking me after my 6 green with 2er me 1er NAS (J:3 white) - as he already took 4 green and I had locos left for 3 green I first made DAL-LIL to secure several ways (J:1er) and then took 6 red - then he stopped blocking (J:6yellow+SEA-CAL) - me 3 green with locos then connection via 3 blue and 2 2er including longest but he ended fast way and I lost by 2, maybe OKL-LIL would have been better than my security turn DAL-LIL and I could have made 2 3er including 1 turn to draw colour cards instead of 2 2 2...who knows
decider: 6 black start

2-1 100-117*° +SFR-ATL +DEN-PIT vs +TOR-MIA +DUL-ELP (BOS-MIA) - 5 LOKOS
Julien started early to take different colours open then took (J:6 orange) - looked like something big and I took important 6 purple (EDIT: yes!, I also had 6 purple, JUJU - all 12 purple cards in our hands after around draw to40!!!), then he took 2 black cards, so I thought better me than him and made 5 black - then he took yellow and green, so me 4 yellow and he started thinking...then took (J:PIT-RAL) - strange one for me and I went on my route with 3 orange first (J:ATL-RAL), me 1er (J:4 yellow) me 2er HOUSTON - he didn't disturb my way furthermore, so it was obvious he had difficulties fulfilling a rather big one + DEN-PIT, I took 6 green + 5 blue (@Vincent: even with him blocking 6 red by then, I could have made my tix via LIL-OKL or LIL-DAL with yellow and red having locos left, so this only would have made him slower as he would have missed important colour cards for reaching his destinations) - I made a 44er as he barely reached SFR with 5 trains left in his hands
decider: better colours I guess

3-1 130*°-076 +POR-NAS +DEN-PIT vs +LA-MI -POR-PHO once more (WIN-HOU) - 5 LOKOS
Bleh, once again this combo - I took 6 black early reminding the 2nd game and he (J:6orange), I had worse colours than in game 2 and waited for more white (J:4green) and me 5 white including 2or3 locos having no other option if he takes them first - he makes his way to PIT as I take SLC-PHO and he counters (6:blue) aaaarrrgh - I tried to reach POR with 5 purple/5orange with my only 2 locos left I also would need for reaching MIA having only 5 green and 5 red, but after my 5 purple he blocked 5 white - I tried to get my big one but he once again disturbed my way and easily won including longest while I barly made LA-MI
decider: maybe 6 blue, maybe both 5 white, no idea if there was a way for me at all

4-1 120*°-104 +DUL-ELP +21 vs +CAL-PHO +16 (VAN-SFE) (drawn -5) - 5 LOKOS
I was lucky with a nice combo and start but Julien took black veeeeeeery early having 34 cards only (J:6black) grrrrr, me 6 orange LA-PHO and 4 purple (J:5 red+4green) 5 white were option for the both of us, as he did not take them first I tried getting perfect colours for longest then (J:5white), me detour 5 yellow and 4 red including 3 locos - Julien finished a 22er FRISCO-WAS with 21 10 8 4 on his route and me having a 42er route and LA-VEGAS as option but only 3 1er in my hands (after loco overdraw for 6 white) - longest tied would make me win by 1 grrrr - I took tix with 4 8 10 on my route as well, of course he must have had one of them himself, so no big surprise I didn't find anything but Kansas...
decider: black'n white or the missing colour card

I open with 6 orange : 2 yellow only, he lays 6 green on grey.
I answer 6 white.
He : 4 blue, me : 6 yellow with 4 locos, protecting myself against a fast Van Mon.
He plays 4 yellow to Cal then 4 more to Seattle, I lock Van. He goes down to Portland. I make my way to NY while he connects. I then go to Dallas.
Seems like a short win for me, he chooses not to draw :
1-0.

Big tickets for me and being on his way made it.

2nd game : Van Fe Cal Phoe vs Port Phoe La Mia111 vs 109(my start)

I open 6 black, he 3 La Phoe, than 5 white by me, he plays 3 to Paso then SF.

I am patient to see what he'll do. He plays 5 pink to Portland then 6 green to Houston. In the meantime, 6 blue are mine, and I block Ho No. He goes to Atl, I lay 3 more white.
He connects via Dallas, and I lay the 1.
He plays 3 locos on LR/NO. I am suprised when he goes to Mia, thinking of SF Atl.
He connects via 3 blue in Santa Fe with longest while I finish quickly.
I barely win by 2. Puh 2-0

3rd game : SF Atl Den Pitt vs Tor Mia Dul Paso100 vs 117 (his start)

I open 6 orange at 36, he surprisingly lays 6 purple,havin myself 6 in hand. I have no black nor green, I decide to wait to weigh my options. He plays 5 black then 4 yellow. Argh, that stinks.

I feel naked with options, and I felt like I chose the wrong one.
He connects in the south with blue and red and adds 6 green to it.

Well played by him, totally killed me !
2-1

4th game : Port Nash Den Pitt vs La Mia Port Phoe130 vs 76 (my start)

One of my favorite combo.

I open 6 orange/6 pink/4 green. He 6 black 5 white 3 to SLC.
That smells like Port Phoe La Mia again.
I lay 6 blue, i have 3 more locos to connect through purple, still flexible through Seattle.
He plays 5 pink to Portland, I then play 5 white on his way.
I complete my hand with good colors open once Tor-Pit is safe.
He lays 6 red, he'll be slow either way, I can finih fast.

3-1 not much to do for him

5th game : LA NY DUl vs LA Chi Cal Phoe120 vs 104 (his start)
I have 6 black fairly early. He counters 6 orange, 4 pink.
Argh, Dul Paso is in danger.
I lay 5 red to offer some options around chi and hopefully take 6 pink. But I need to : play 2 to dul and 4 green.

He lays 3 to Phoem looks like La Chi + a west (Hel La, Den Paso, Sea La are my first guesses).
I can connect 4 green then 2 to Paso while he connects Chicago.
I play 5 white to slow him = he goes to Paso/Oak.
I finish up La Ny, he has to pick up a loco open for 6 white.
I end the game, if he has a 2 + LA Chi/Cal Phoe, he wins by one.

But no 2er, he has to draw and finds nothing.

4-1

Good tickets for me, really good colors, and always able to take the 1 track that bothered him and made my life easier.
He had not much flexibility nor options. I have to say that his win Dul Paso/TOr Mia was outstanding !

Ok, there are worse combinations. But colours are difficult. Doc draws open black, red and green, so I hope, he is in the south. Orange is fine, I lay 6, but I just have 2 lokos, 4 yellow. And surprisingly he starts with 3+3 yellow. Upps! My PORT-PHO gets more difficult with using my whites for CAL-WIN. I draw colours, doc 4 green and 6 red on grey. Ok, looks like VAN-MON. 6 white by me makes him fast with 4 blue and forces me to play HEL-CAL, what perhaps let him play SEA-CAL, no good idea. I play 4 yellow SEA-CAL, hoping he plays for longest with a defensive 1er, Doc does. Me 4 red HEL-CAL, Doc again for longest VAN-CAL, luckily with blue. Me 6 white, forces him to play another 4 blue WIN-HEL, so that my NY-MON gets more secure. He uses a loko for those 4, so no blue left in his hand. Me 5 black, Doc 3 black MON-TO. I have 4 blue, 5 pink, 5 green, 1 orange and 2 lokos on hand, 17/20. I decide to stay offensive and play 2 blue SAULT-TO, Doc draws 2 open blue, me 2 blue+1 loko NY-MON, expecting his 6 pink, but Doc lays 2 TO-PI. Hm, I have 5 green, 5 pink and a loko, if I play 3er SAULT-DUL to connect my biggie, I perhaps have the colours to make my 2nd tic (PORT-SANF-LA-PHO), but its blockable and to get longest, I would have to overdraw for the 1 PORT-SEA, so me 5+1 pink. Doc draws colours again, me an open orange and a lucky loko, Doc 2+2 blue CHI-OMA. I think about blocking 3 orange CHI-PI, but guess he must have 4 white, so 2 orange NY-WASH, he 4 pink, longest is save, so 6 green, Doc 4 white, he has VAN-MON, DEN-PI, I win by

107:113

2. SEA-NY; CAL-SLC (SEA-LA)

Good tix again, but the game developed more difficult than I wanted. Just 4 yellow, 2 white and 4 lokos, when I get a 5th orange, but Doc plays them at that moment. Ok, 6 yellow are too important, so 4+2 yellow by me, Doc draws colours. I have 5 orange and 2 lokos left, 6 green, 6 black, 6 red, 4 pink, 2 white 4 blue...Which colour on grey? Orange with another loko? Too expensive, red I have to keep, if Docs hand is full of whites and he smells, that I cannot play 6 white and blocks 4 blue, so I have to be able to go via 5 red to omaha. So 6 green, Doc luckily plays 6 white, me 4 blue. Doc connects 4 blue (puuuuhh) HEL-CAL (grrrrr), ok, longest will be difficult this time. Me 5 black. My colours are cruel. I overdraw twice, while Doc luckily goes down very slowly via DUL-OMA-KAN-OKLA, I lay NY-MON with 2 lokos and an open drawn blue, 6 red, 3+1 white SEA-CAL, 5 orange, Doc 6 green, 5 yellow, 2 to LR, 4 black WIN-DUL, me 5 pink with just 1 in hand, he 5 red, me 1 SEA-PORT and win against poor WIN-LR; KAN-HOU

112:123

3. SEA-NY; CAL-SLC (KAN-HOU)

Again 22 with a good 2nd, again CAL-SLC. Tixgod is by my side. But again I have problems with my west, but can start with 6 orange early. Doc 6 pink! hm, 4 black, 3 yellows, 3 lokos, too early to show, I have a biggie. I draw blind, find a 6th white, have 8 blue. Doc 3 red CHI-DUL. Hm, it's getting closer in the east. I draw an open yellow, Doc draws too. Now I have the colours to show my tix. 5 black, Doc 3 orange MON-TO, me 3 blue. I get 6 grey, 6 white, 4 CAL-SEA, Doc 4 pink 6 green, then 6 yellow SEA-HEL, me 1 PORT-SEA, 6 blue, 3 pink and 4 yellow CAL-HEL (longest was safe), while Doc connects CHI-OMA-DEN-PHO-ELP-HOU-NO, has both NO-tix, I win

103:132

4. CAL-PHO; WIN-HOU (CHI-NO)

He starts 6 black, me 5+1 green, Doc DALL-LR. Ok, could become interesting in WINNI. He seems to save yellows, perhaps SEA-LA, WIN-LR. I draw, Doc 4 red ELP-DALL. I draw a 6th orange, sure he doesn't want them, but he has 6 and lays them. Ok, I decide not to give him 6 yellow, lay 5+1 yellow, Doc 2 LR-ST.L. Hm, perhaps 21+ DALL-NY? With start, it looks good for my longest and 25 in Tixpoints, so I don't worry. So me 6 white. I wonder if Doc lays 2 DEN-SANTAFE after that, what would have brought me in trouble, but he lays 4 blue HEL-WIN (ok, no DALLAS-NY+21), me those 2 DEN-SANTAFE, Doc 2 ST.L-CHI. He is slow, I think I can make a 45, lay 6 orange on grey, Doc 3 lokos on red CHI-DUL. I fill my colours, connect 4 pink, 4 black for SEA-CAL, 5 red, while DOC lays 3 yellow to SANFR, 5 green to PORT and blocks my 3 PHO-SANTAFE, me 2 SANTAFE-ELP, Doc 2 to LASVEGAS, me the 1 to DALL, I win against LA-CHI; WIN-LR

101:128

I think the 2nd and 3rd game were just winnable for Doc, if he finds a block against me, so better tix won. In the first perhaps Doc relys too long on his good tix and his good start, so he played a bit too defensive in my eyes. The last my 13+12 with start were too strong against his way with 3 slow 2ers. So 3 times 22 together with a westtic and once a lovely middlecombi means: Tixgod was in Germany this morning.

107-123* Port-Phoe + Cal-Phoe looked nice, but only 3 locos for me and LA-Chi + LA-Hel for Birgit who started orange (me yellow) and black. I made the bad choice to play 4 green before 5 white and...0-1

98-113* Dul-Hou + Chi-NO + 8 locos against La-Mia + Cal-SLC. I bothered her with Hou-NO and LR-OC but didn't try to block. I was thinking it could be enough to have the longest but she ended with big points, I needed 3 points and had 5 tickets on my route...but didn't find one ! 1-2

103-104* Dul-Elp + SSM-OC (3 locos) + longest vs Van-Mon + Den-Elp (missed).
My big mistake in this game when Birgit played 2 OC-LR while she was in chi and Oma. I think a lot to avoid her from connecting...but her 6 grey (and Win so) was not connected to her road...AND I HAD SSM-OC If I play without trying to block it is at least a tie and perhaps a win (I don't remember the 5 open colors) : 2-3

*119-119 LA-NY + NY-Atl vs LA-Mia + Port-Phoe.
Bad feeling for me, I did'nt play the good order after my 6 black and 6 orange, and didn't play the 6 red when I was thinking she had LA-Mia...
When she had only 13 wagons in hand (and the 6 green to play) and it was obvious that she had 20+11, I was really thinking she wouldn't let me enough time to connect my second ticket, so I started to talk and say grats to here. I'm really in trouble with that, because after that she overdrew (her choice, but it let me time to connect) and made a mistake for longest that gave me an unexpected tie still 2-3

117-109* Hel-LA + Den-Pitt + 6 locos vs Win-LR + NY-Atl + Mon-Atl + longest
I played 6 orange, 6 black, 6 purple while she played only 6 grey, and I played 6 red when she arrived in NO and ended with 6 yellow, too slow east for her even with start and 6 red was the good key this time 3-3

*124-97 Van-Mon + Den-Pitt + 4 locos + longest vs 2 east tickets.
6 yellow for me, 6 orange for her, 6 grey (orange) for me, 5 black for her, 3 in Mon for me, 6 purple for her, 2 to connect in Tor and 6 white and 4 green for me while she tried to connect her bad tickets, easy win with better luck of tickets and colors in last 2 games 4-3

Not the best tix, but we'll see. I get 6 orange early, Isha pays 3 lokos for 6 yellow, me 6 white. I guess, he has a biggie, but have no colour to play 6 grey, so we both draw colours. Isha 5 red. Hm, how to block his biggie, that I am sure about now. I think there's no chance, and as I have just 3 green with HOU, I have to go via 4 pink. So my only 4 blue CHI-OMA to save my chances for longest and my chi-tic. Isha 6 grey as expected. Me 6 green with 3 of my 4 lokos. Isha connects via 4 blue, 5 black, 3 more blue, 2 NY-PI and 1 to SEA-PORT, while I connect HEL-CAL, DEN-SANFE-ELP. Isha 2 2er to ATL. Isha now is 6/9, if he has 22+17, I lose against a 5 green and a 1er with my 7 black on my hand, but Isha draws, so I can finish with 6 black, Isha 5 green, me 1 HOU-DALLAS, what gives me longest, cause ISHA has 5 red out and 4 lokos not on board, hoping its SANF-ATL, MON-ATL. But Isha has SEA-NY, SANF-ATL, its a tie, I can live with.

117:117

2. LA-CHI, DEN-PI (NY-ATL) 3 lokos my start

Good, nothing happened, start here now. And good tix. But colours are bad. Isha starts 6 orange, me 5+1 black, Isha 4 green, me 5 white. With 27 points in tix, longest is not that important. I lay 6 yellow, to make a 6er and my way to CHI surer. But I dont find a good way for my tix. As Isha draws many open blue, I expect PORT-NASH, but he surprises me with 5+1 blue on grey. Ok, no PORT-NASH, DEN-PI is mine, I guess, he has something like WINNI-LR or SAULT, I have useless 4 reds, given up my chance for longest with 6 yellow, so 4 red DEN-OKLA. I unluckily drew 6 pink, cause there are no good colours open, I think about laying them and connect in small steps to CHI and DEN, but ISHA has them too and is faster. GRRR. Then Isha plays TOR-DEN. I have 2 more whites drawn from the deck, so I try to make it more difficult to reach OKLA or LITTLER, laying 2+1 white LITTLER-NASH. Isha 2 LITTLER-ST.L. I think long about 2 NASH-ST-L, but don't play, cause he has enough options to connect via KAN or CHI, what perhaps would bring my tix in danger. I play 4 pink, 4 blue, 3 orange, but have to overdraw once for 3 to connect my 6 black without dividing my greens, while Isha, plays ST.L-NASH, 4 yellow, DUL-SAULT, DUL-WINNI for longest, and I overdraw a second time to finish with another 6er in green, fearing Isha takes another loko too to finish with 6 red, what he does. He has WINNI-LR, SAULT-NASH, what gives him the win with

120:116

3. SEA-NY, SAULT-NASH (TO-MI) 6 lokos Isha starts

Short story: I get 6 yellow, Isha 6 orange, me 6 red on grey. I have 3 blue and 3 white, whatever he does, it costs me lokos. Isha 6 green, me 3+3 white, Isha 4 pink. I can connect to NY, my connection HEL-CAL is a block to make longest more difficult for him, but Isha sees the possibility of a 17 on my hand and blocks SEA-PORT, a nice secondary effect, I finish my second via 5 green and win easily against DUL-HOU, CHI-NO and a drawn DUL-ELP

105:128

4. MON-ATL, SAULT-NASH, SAULT-OKLA, 4 lokos, my start

A very interesting game. I get 6 orange early, hoping for a 44 with a 1er in last move, so finish the game by 43 in 10 with start. But Isha kills my plan. I start with 6 orange, Isha 6 grey with 5+1 orange. Byebye 44 . I'm not strong in pink, so I draw colours, Isha 6 white. Hm, its time to play 5 black. Isha 4 green HEL-DEN! GRRR, my plan flys in the waste-paper-basket. Hm, I have 6 red, 2 lying open. Perhaps I can connect with 5 and 4 red. I dont think he has a biggie, cause he didnt react to my 5 black. WINNI-LR? Cant be wrong to play 4 red. So DEN-OKLA. Isha takes my open reds, so my plan there is near my first. Ok, so connection via PITT. Me 6 pink with 2 lokos, Isha 6 yellow and 4 SEA-CAL. I shut the door to the east with TO-SAULT, Isha, 2 DEN-SANFE, me LR-OKLA (I'm sure he has WINNI-LR, SAULT are both mine ) and go down TO-PITT. ISHA trys to fight for longest, plays MON-TO (having small whites I feared 20 a bit with SAULT-DUL-CHI-TOR, but would he have waited that long for a move to MON?), I connect 3 white and 4 yellow, Isha DUL-SAULT, SANFE-ELP, me 3 blue MON-NY, Isha DALL-LR, me the loop 2 green NY-PITT. Isha has 3 out now, me just 2 TO-PITT, but my 1er to ATL will be out too. Isha just has 2/3 in his hand, I'm not sure about the colours. Playing the 1er first would give him time to draw an open loko for 3 red or 3 green to make a 42. But I have 3 tix, on my way are just both SAULT and DEN-PITT, I was early in MON, does he smell, that I need that 1er? However, I cannot risk to give him longest alone. With his block ATL-NASH, he loses longest, so me 4 green, Isha 2 for a 41, me 1 to ATL, also 41, what gives me a victory against his DUL-ELP, WINNI-LR by 1, but it's WINNI-LR and DEN-ELP, I win

107:114

5. SANF-ATL, TO-MI (KAN-HOU) 6 lokos, Isha starts

I take 2 open oranges in my first move, but drawing to 44, I just get 1 more and just 2 black! Difficult to connect 17 without one of these 6ers, and Isha starts with 6 orange. Ok, I dont wanna give him all north6ers, the one I can use best is 5+1 pink. Isha 4+2 pink on grey. Hm...if I get 6 white and 4 black, I can make a nice route in the north, but I guess Isha blocks 4 black, if I start with whites. As I have 4 blue, 5 green and 8 yellow, there are some other options, if he blocks 6 white. Having 6 red, 3 orange and 3 more lokos after 2+2black, I perhaps can make both tix. So 2+2 black, Isha 5+1 white. Ok, me 4 blue. Isha NY-PITT? My first tip was, he has VAN-MON and will be sure to kill my 22. Ok, not bad for me. TO-PI, Isha 3 blue NY-MON??? Hm, east? Me 2 PI-Raleigh, so Isha has to think about, if its a preparing move to get to NY sure. Isha 2 WASH-RALEIGH??? Wow, I get new hope. Me 2 RALEIGH-ATL, Isha 1 ATL-NASH, me 3+1 orange ATL-NO, Isha 3 black, me 6 red, first tic done and perhaps it looks like east?? Isha 5 black. Hm, but how to connect to SANF? I used 2 whites and 2 yellow for the small 2ers in the east, but open whites could give me the sure way via DEN-SLC to SANF, but I decide, its too slow. I have 6 yellow, 5 green, 1 single and 2 lokos on hand. I think about the 2er PITT-WASH, cause with my way HEL-SEA-PORT-SANFR I will have a 42 and 2 useless cards on hand, with which I cannot extend my route. Second, it would give Isha time to lay his greens, I fear for PORT-SANF . But without start, perhaps I'm too slow. So 6 yellow, expecting the 1er-block. Isha plays PITT-WASH, puhh...me the 1, expecting 5 green. But Isha connects 4 yellow CAL-HEL (wow, was it perhaps possible, he could have been able to block 6 yellow? Never thought, they are in danger, good I started with those 6 yellow before the 1er), me 5 green, Isha finishes with 2+1 green DUL-SAULT and has a 44. Now there are my 2 useless last cards. If I would have laid them on PITT-WASH, we both would have had a 42. But it must be enough against every combi out of MON-ATL, NY-ATL and SAULT-NASH, if he doesn't draw the third of them. Me 2 lokos on HOU-NO, Isha doesn't draw and has terrible MON-ATL and DALL-NY, which he didn't play. I win

90:112

6. LA-CHI, SANF-ATL (MON-ATL) 4 lokos my start

Not bad, but I wait too long for 6 black, having just 4 on my hand. Now I have to get 6 oranges, but have just 3 on my hand. I draw to 44, take 3 open oranges in that time, waiting for his answer there, but I surprisingly get them. Isha also draws to 44, me 3 pink, SANF-LA, Isha 3 orange LA-PHO, me 4+1 white SANF-SLC. Isha drew open greens, of what I have 7. I expect a 20 in the south, ready to block the greens or NO-HOU, but he surprises me with 4 green! Me 3 pink SLC-HEL. Isha 4+1 red!!! Hm, 16 are in my hand. I'm very interested in his tix. Me 3 red DUL-CHI. Isha 4+2 pink???? Hm, my block DUL-OMA forces him to go via CHI or WINNI, WINNI means 5 senseless red he played already, CHI means 4 white (but means needing 9 white to connect DEN with the south, having no more reds, or to be slow with 2 and 3 via SANTAFE), cause I block CHI-DEN, needing it myself. So 2 DUL-OMA, Isha 4 blue OMA-CHI, me 3 black CHI-PITT, Isha 2 DEN-SANFE (he must go the slow way). Me 6 green on grey to not give him that 6er, Isha 4 white, me 1 NASH-ATL, expecting yellows in his hand, but having all options via ST.L, although I have to take an open loko for 5 green, if he blocks ST.L-CHI. Isha 3 blue TO-MON!!!!! Wow, that MUST be 21!!! I have just 2 blue on hand, but some lokos. Isha has just 7 cards left. To reach NY and make his 21, he has not many attempts. So 2+1 blue MON-NY, Isha 2 blue MON-BO. Me 2 yellow NY-BO, having 3+1 more yellow on hand for my 17. He just has 5/6, so to make his 21 he has to fill his hand and must connect SANFE-ELP, TO-PITT-NY, which routes I could block all. So he decides to finish blocking my 4 yellow. Hm, I lay back in points, but just have +16-17, while I expect +9-21. If this wasn't a great bluff, I win, cause I get longest by 1 with 3 DUL-OKLA to connect my 6 green on grey, (longest with 26 vs 25 ). But the combi I expected, was wrong. He has LA-NY, DALL-NY, so I win clearly

41:78

7. DUL-ELP, SAULT-OKLA (PORT-NASH) ? lokos, Isha starts

Fantastic! And I get 5 oranges and 7 blue before 30 cards, start with those grey and oranges and am very confident . Isha 4+2 yellow, me 4 green, Isha 6 black. He draws open reds and pink and I see a finish in 9 with start for him via OMAHA! Not good! So I decide to use my 5 whites not for the 6er in the north, but for DEN-PHO, also because I don't have any red to get to OKLA. I plan a 43 in 9 via MON, but I need PHO-ELP for that. Isha plays 3 pink to SANFR. BRRRR, if he has a PHO-tic, it cant take long, that he plays ELP-PHO, what I need for my 43. I have no 3er I can use for that, so I have to gamble. Colours don't like me. I need two more draws to get them, but Isha seems not to be interested. My early start brings me in trouble now, I have just 4 yellow, 5 pink, 2 black, open are just the wrong colours, from the deck theres no help. So Isha fills his hand with whites and blue and reds, I don't need. Isha connects 3 pink HEL-SLC and 5 orange. Boah, looks like 4 red SEA-CAL, 6 white, 4 blue and 6 green in the south and a finish in 9 with start for Isha. I don't have the colours for my 43, it really looks bad, another plan in the wpb. It gets fuller and fuller . Isha 4+2 green. I think long about 4 SEA-CAL, but don't have a good colour for that. And it would have made no sense, because the loop can be played also with CAL-HEL. Then I wonder about why he played a fast connection between 6 yellow and 6 black without blue? Ok, I had 8 blue, but he took some open. And why did he play green before that 4er SEA-CAL? Green seemed to be safe? I just had 2 reds, he took them open, he must have a hand full of them. The hope to block him something with 2 NO-HOU seems to be bigger for me than trying something in the north. So 2 HOU-NO. Isha 6 red!!!! Looks like a capitulation, I'm sure, he has not enough lokos to play 3 more green. Me 4+1 yellow, Isha 6 white, me 5+1 pink, Isha finishes with 3 blue DUL-SAULT, so I get longest with 2+2 black. I blocked his 20 and win against SEA-LA, LA-MI

86:114

All together better tix I think. I was not happy to lose with 16+11 and start, but am not sure, what I could have done better. I think his game with LA-NY and DALL-NY was not well played, but the others I think I just had more luck with tix. So starting BO9 with a tie means long hard work. 3 hours of playing are tough for an old guy like me. So thx for the nice atmosphere in these games Isha. Would be nice to meet again.

Fun match with big tickets almost every game. I think I took good notes, hopefully most of this is accurate. I lost count of locos but feel like it was pretty even, each having ~5 each game, perhaps more overall for Pete.

1. cal-pho, kc-hou (ssm-nash) VS la-mia, sf-atl, port-nash*
No real chance for me against these ticket and start for Pete, he got 6 black first so was not much to do but play out fast in north and get longest hoping he missed a ticket. 109-135. (0-1)

2. van-mon, den-paso (win lr)* VS la-ny, ny-atl
Again, pretty well decided from the beggining as I got all north 6ers and though he represented 41 in south when he draws I know he needs to find the other big ticket. No luck in draw, 123-97. (1-1)

3. la-ny, dal-ny (van fe) VS den-paso, kc-hou*
Possibly the most interesting game, but I played a bit reckless and did not pay attention to my opponents colors. I managed to get tie for longest which forces a draw with 3 tickets to find. Fortunately for me no luck in draw, 114-104 after -9 in draw. (2-1)

4. sea-ny, cal-pho (kc-hou)* VS van-mon, chi-no
Classic north battle between opposite halves of 42. After trading north 6ers, yellow/orange for me, pink/gray for Pete, I lay 5 black, him 3 blue, I connect 3 gray to ssm and he quickly blocks me out of ny playing 2 green. I wonder if he has 20. I show that my 2nd is probably 13 playing 4 gray sea-cal and 4 green to den. He doesn't play 5 white so I am more suspicious of 20. But I cannot block 6 white and still be sure to make 13 so I draw to 45 and save reds to maybe try to get ny via bos. In the end he can play only one ticket, I don't need to make 22 unless he has only -4, so I risk playing 6 red to go out in 9 turns with longest and lucky he has -7 to win by 2, 93-91. (3-1)

5. win-lr, ssm-nash, ssm-okc VS cal-slc, port-pho?*
Maybe a mistake to keep all 3 without start, even as close and flexible as this combo is. I tried to secure longest playing 5 green sf-port, probably a mistake as I left 4 red open to slow me down, he plays just 1 ticket and gives up longest, but I fail to connect to gray 6er and miss all 3 of my tickets. 59-91. (3-2)

Game 7. van-mon, ssm-nash, mon-atl VS sea-ny, chi-no*
Another great north duel. I open with 6 green on gray hoping he'll believe all east tix, he counters with 6 pink. I play 5 black next, he plays 6 orange. I play tor-pitt, he plays tor-mon. Is this happening again? I play 3 blue to ny forcing him to play 2 green ny-pitt. Without thinking much I play 3 orange. After Pete plays chi-stl and 4 white to connect chi-tor I feel like it may work out, I show that I may have 20 playing 3 gray. He plays for longest knowing his 15 in ticket pts will not be enough if I make 3 with van-mon and longest. For a moment I fear 39 after his single to port but after 6 blue it is obvious he made only 1 ticket and my 37 is enough even without longest. A very good final game to a tough match with multiple interesting games. 120-115. (4-3)

In the end I can't complain about tickets, locos or colors, and fortunately a couple mistakes were not too much to overcome. Thanks Pete for challenging games and a fun match.

I open with 6 green on grey, hoping to be on the way of a biggie in the north.
He plays 6 orange, my 6 purple.
He goes 3 white to SSM, I lock 5 black then 3 red to Chi.
I complete my colors to have a decent 44 track.
Not only he's too fast, but he secures longest by laying Mon Tor while I was trying to collect the best colors.
1-0

2nd game : La Chi Cal Phoe vs Dul Hou Den Paso127 vs 95(his start)

Ideal tix to get his break back.
I quickly play 6 yellow and orange. I have 9 locos. I have the nicest track. While he takes 6 purple, white green.
I get longest, nothing to do for him.

I play yellow and orange, he answers 6 black, 5 white 6 blue.
I gotta secure La by taking LA Phoe. He locks up the west exit.
I go out via Santa Fe, but he's faster than I am, despite my 5 purple in Portland. Nice Longest for him.
I had the upper hand at the beginning but I let him go back in the game. I found myselft constantly one move behind.

Well played by him : 2 - 1

4th game : SF ATL La Mia vs Port phoe Den pitt129 vs 116 (his start)

Again, nice combo to get the start advantadge back.
He quickly opens 6 yellow 6 orange.
I have 4 black, 2 green, 2 red at that point.
I have to be patient. I distract his game with 6 white, then my 6 black.
I hope to make it look like a Hel La Win Hou.
I can go to SF, he takes 6 grey with black. (probably no biggie, good news)
I push the bluff a bit more by going to Helena. I'm still short on yellow, green and red. He locks up Winnipeg with 4 red to Cal then 4 blue.
After his 4 green, I had to go to 44 cards to get 6 green to be flexible.
I lay Atl New Orleans. I'm concerned I'd be one turn short with a fast suicide finish, but he takes Tor Pitt.
I go to NO, then 6 green. He plays 6 pink 5 white. Me 5 blue and 5 extra yellow.
I have longest, win is safe.
2-2 : thanks tickets again.

He opens 6 orange, I go for 4 green then 6 yellow.
He answers with yellow on grey. I secure 4 blue, his 4 pink, then my 5 red. He played 5 white at some point. I lay 4 orange to Cal then 2 to Santa Fe.

He leaves Dul Omaha open a bit too long to my taste.
He's sitting on his green black and red, I have to protect myself against La Mia.
I'll play either 6 black or 2 Ho No. He goes for 6 black, I block Ho No. I connect Van Mon and Cal Phoe but I fall short for longest. He connects his middle track but he has a ticket dead for sure. Surprise, no Mia but SSM Nash.
He drew and fiended nothing.

No black, no orange, looks bad.
He opens 6 orange, I'm sitting one more turn on my 6 yellow to find some more black.
He plays 6 yellow, slap in my face : basically game over.
I burn my locos on black, then 6 green. But he connects NY then Portland.
He gets longest and I barely make my tickets.
Spectator of his win, seating in a premium box !
Grats, 3-3.

7th game : Sea Ny La Chi (Win Lr) vs La Mia Cal Slc134 vs 124 (my start)
I have 2 orange, 2 yellow but 6 locos.
I have to chose one track, and I go for yellow.
He plays 6 black then 6 white. I secure 4 green and LA.
He plays 3 Pink to SF, then 3 more to Hel.
I grab a couple more orange. I'm hoping he would need them to connect in the west so that I can claim the 6er.
He plays 6 red . it gives me time to connect Chi + Ny and to draw if needed.
Lucky me, he plays 3 green to LR. Blindsided like a newbie (10 tickets to hit) by my fiending chances, I don't even block Oak Lr. I find Hel La and Dul Paso.
He has nothing to find, in the bag for me.

I have 7 locos when he opens 6 black but only 3 red and 2 blue.
I go for 6 green with a loco, he answers 5 yellow with 2 locos.
Good for me, no west/no La Chi.
I lay 3 white to Nash, then 2 to Dallas. But that throws away Dallas Ny and he plays Pitt-NY.
I go for 3 orange to chi, then 2 to Pitt. He picks green open, and I am all in, 5 locos on 5 green.
He finds the last hole with Atl Raleigh, I have no red or blue enough to finish him off. I try to wear him out a bit more in Raleigh.
I connect my tickets and so does he.

He picks a yellow open.
He's already played 5 yellow with 2 locos, I go with a block in Boston, last chance to kill something with my gut telling me he does not have 2 biggies.
I'm still in the run for longest but I don't find a 4th red blind. He secures longest by not finishing one turn quicker.
I play 3 red to Duluth, I have 5 tickets to find for the win, only if he has Bos Mia dead.

Lucky me, I find Ny Atl and I win by 2 points.

3 wins for him : 2 well crafted tracks in game 1 and 3, better play/game in game 5.
3 wins for me with very good hands in game 2, 4 and 5. In Game 7 and 8, I got the luck/inspirations I needed to get the final advantadge.

gnirlum and I will try to get in a few games starting at 10:00pm Eastern US tonight. We'll likely have to finish later in the week, but my schedule is a difficult one at the moment this week, so we'll get in as many as we can tonight first. Thanks for your willingness, g
ATLeague